Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

We strongly encourage parents and students to review the following information. These are the most common questions that are asked during the course of the school year.

Please note these are common general questions and are not meant to be all inclusive of the many guidelines and policies for our school and district. Please refer to the parent/student handbook for a comprehensive list of school and district policies, guidelines and information.

GETTING TO AND FROM SCHOOL

WHAT ARE THE SCHOOL HOURS?First Bell: 7:57 AM

Schedule Start 8:05 AMEnd 2:55 PM

WHAT IS THE BELL SCHEDULE FOR MACARTHUR?Attached is MacArthur's bell schedule.

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ABSENCE, ATTENDANCE AND TARDINESS?No pupils should be in the building before 7:30 A.M. except by special permission.

School begins at 8:05 A.M.. Students who are not in Advisory when the bell rings will be considered tardy and must sign-in within the main office. Multiple instances of tardiness will result in parent contact.

Parents must call in all absences to the school office at 847-870-5375 each day a student is absent. A phone recorder will be available to accept short phone messages if a parent wishes to report a student absence before the school office opens.

If a call is not received, a parent will be contacted at home or at work. We greatly appreciate efforts made by parents to complete these calls as early as possible. If a parent cannot be reached and we suspect the possibility of truancy, the local police department may be contacted.

Excessive absences may prevent students from being included in student activities. On the day a student is absent, participation/attendance at after school/evening activities is not allowed without an administrator's permission.

It is highly encouraged that all students check Schoology to stay up to date with classroom lessons and homework.

WHAT ARE THE MORNING ARRIVAL POLICIES?Students are not allowed to ride bicycles, skateboards, scooters, etc. on school property.

All bikes should be walked while on school property and properly locked on the bike racks on the east side of the building (near the Cafeteria). Any violation of this rule may result in suspension of a student’s bicycle privileges.

WHERE CAN MY CHILD KEEP A BACKPACK?Backpacks are not to be used in classrooms. Students may use them only for transporting belongings to and from school and must be stored except for this purpose.

WHAT DO I DO IF MY CHILD NEEDS AN EARLY DISMISSAL?If it should be necessary for a student to be dismissed from school early, a request must be written by the parent stating the time and reason for the early dismissal. All requests must be presented to the office when students enter the building in the morning. Parents must come to the office to sign their children out of school before picking them up for departure.

IMPORTANT SCHOOL POLICIES

WHAT IS THE SCHOOL POLICY ON BULLYING?MacArthur Middle School does not tolerate acts of harassment, including acts of harassment based on race, color or national origin. Any student who believes he or she has been subjected to harassment or a hostile environment based on race, color or national origin is encouraged to report the harassment or hostile environment to a MacArthur staff/administrative member.

Students found to have engaged in acts of harassment or other acts that create a hostile environment based on race, color or national origin will be promptly disciplined and such discipline may include, if circumstances warrant, out of school suspension or expulsion.

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SCHOOL DRESS CODE?Students' dress and grooming must not disrupt the educational process, interfere with the maintenance of a positive teaching and learning climate, or compromise reasonable standards of health, safety, and decency.

Specifically, the following is prohibited at school or at school-sponsored events:

Clothing which displays or implies, with words or graphics, any of the following:*The use of tobacco, alcohol, or illegal substances*Sexual, vulgar, lewd or indecent meanings or connotations*Identification with a gang or with any group whose purpose or effect is to interfere with the operation of the school or school activities, or with the safety and security of students and staff*Depiction of violence in any form*Coats, jackets, caps, bandanas and hats- except when arriving at or departing from school, or attending after school activities*Clothing/accessories that may damage school property or be readily used as a weapon

In addition:

Students should be covered from shoulder to mid-thigh with solid material at all timesUndergarments should never be showingPants must be at waist level and tank tops must cover area above and below shoulderSkirts and shorts must be worn at a reasonable length (no shorter than an arms length when arms and fingers are fully extended at sides of the body)Students may be warned or asked to change objectionable clothing. Students who repeatedly do not comply with the student appearance policy are subject to further disciplinary action.

WHAT IS THE POLICY ON CELL PHONES FOR STUDENTS?Cell phone use is not permitted in the school. Cell phones are allowed in school under the condition that the phone will be kept in the locker and turned OFF.

Phone use can occur before or after school hours outside the school building. If a phone is found with the student during the school day, or the student operates the phone during the school day, the phone will be confiscated until the end of the day. Repeated offenses will result in having a parent come to school to retrieve their student’s phone.

Parents are asked to help us enforce this policy and are also asked to refrain from calling or texting their child during the school day while classes are in session.

If a student really needs to make a call during the school day, a teacher can give permission to use the classroom phone. Students can also use the office phone in some instances. Students may also use their own cell phone outside of the school after 3:00 P.M..

WHAT IS THE SCHOOL POLICY ON LOCKERS?Each student is issued a hall locker and gym locker. It is important to remember:

Lockers remain the property of the school and can be inspected at any time by teachers or administrators

Lockers are used only for storing books, clothing, and items necessary for school- money and other valuables should never be left in lockersLockers are to be kept clean and orderly, and students will be held responsible for any damage to locks or lockersStudents are required to keep their lockers locked at all timesStudents should never share their locker combination with others, nor are they allowed to switch lockers

WHAT IF I NEED TO BRING MY CHILD AN ITEM THAT WAS FORGOTTEN?To keep classroom interruptions to a minimum, if a student forgets something at home and are expecting it to be delivered to school, it is the student’s responsibility to check in the office to see if it has arrived. Anything left in the office at the end of the day will be put in lost and found.

WHAT IF MY CHILD WILL NEED TO TAKE MEDICATIONS AT SCHOOL?For medication to be administered during the school day, a written order from the physician, detailing medication, dosage, and time intervals to be given must be on file. The required form to be used for both the parent and physician is available at the school office or online and is called the Medication Authorization Form.

Non-prescription drugs also require a written order from the physician. Documented permission from the parent or guardian must also be on file in the school health office to permit the child to receive medication during school hours.

With the exception of asthma medication to be self-administered by the student, all medications must be delivered personally by the parent to a school representative in a container, properly labeled by a pharmacy or a physician.

The district reserves the right to reject any request for the administration of medication in the school. Students in possession of prescription or non-prescription medications in violation of this policy may be subject to disciplinary action.

Important information about asthma medication:

A student may possess and self-administer asthma medication on school grounds, at school activities, while under the supervision of school personnel, or before and after normal school activities, when:

The medication has been prescribed by a physician, a physician’s assistant or an advanced practice registered nurse possessing the proper authority to prescribe medicationThe student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) have provided the school nurse with written authorization for the self-administration of medication and a written statement from the student’s physician, physician assistant or advance practice registered nurse that states the following:*The name and purpose of the medication*The prescribed dosage*The time or times at which or special circumstances under which the medication is to be administered*The student or guardian(s) have signed and submitted the district’s Self-Administration of Asthma Medication form.

WHEN CAN I EXPECT REPORT CARDS?Student report cards are issued at the end of each trimester. Progress reports will be issued halfway through each trimester.

As these dates are subject to change depending on school closings for inclement weather, please refer to the school calendar for the most up to date information on end of grading periods and report card distribution.

Parents and students have the ability to access student grades anytime through PowerSchool. Students and parents can sign in using the username and password given to them at the beginning of the school year.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIESWHAT CLUBS OR ACTIVITIES ARE AVAILABLE, AND HOW DOES MY CHILD JOIN?MacArthur is proud to offer a wide variety of intramurals, interscholastic/intramural sports for all of our students. Please visit the Clubs and Activities page for a list as well as description of these activities.

PARENT VOLUNTEERINGCAN I VOLUNTEER AT SCHOOL?Research in the area of parental involvement indicates that parent participation is one of the greatest indicators of student success!

Please consider volunteering for at least one activity at our school! We have many opportunities from joining committees to supervising events to organizing at home projects, as well as serving on our PTO Board. We need your help!